Tangles, Splits and Single Strand Knots- How to know when it is time for a trim

01:29
Naija girl next door
25 Comments

Hey hey!

I recently got a trim. Trust me I didn't want to, but before my trim I had been dealing with an army of single strand knots, weak, split ends and detangling battles. Strugs.

It's like, my hair grew longer and just before I could celebrate I had to give it up. My ends were rough, dry, tangly.

Dry, knotted ends.

The first thing I did was to put my hair away for two weeks in crochet braids to avoid getting impatient and rough. That's how I was feeling.

When I was ready to deal I had a proper wash day- finger detangle, protein prepoo, coffee on my scalp, wash, condition, detangle again. I even dusted my ends hoping that would be enough. But nah, I had to call it and break out the shears.

Signs it's time for a trim

These apply to both relaxed and natural hair.

1. Detangling suddenly becomes a nightmare.

To detangle, I usually need just oil (my fave is olive) plus or minus a little water spray. I work it in with my fingers and the tangles come apart. If at all there are any stubborn knots they get snipped off. No time.

This time detangling became a struggle. I was spending too much time per section and not having much success with just my fingers. I resorted to the wide tooth comb that I gave up while transitioning. It helped, but then the hair would be tangled again the next day.

2. Single strand knots

They are unavoidable for kinky coily hair which naturally curves in upon itself. A single strand will literally just work itself into a knot. It's more a natural hair problem but if you're stretching your relaxer or transitioning you may get some too.

Single strand knot

The knots feel like bumps along a strand, and if you have a lot of them, you'll get a rough feeling when you handle your hair. SSKs are major tangle causers. They act just like the hooks on Velcro: they latch on to adjacent strands= tangles > you keep prying them apart > more mechanical damage to your ends= split ends and breakage. For as long as the knots remain, the cycle continues and you won't retain length. Plus, your hair becomes almost unmanageable.

3. Hair just won't retain moisture.

Split ends are damaged goods. The inner cortex is exposed and so it just leaches out moisture.

2. Nighttime routine is important. I got lazy and started sleeping with my hair out some nights. I don't even sleep on a pillow so my kinky hair and my cotton sheets... NO. The result is hard brittle hair.
I'll make sure I braid/twist/bantu knot/thread at night and cover with my satin scarf.
If I'm feeling lazy I'll protective style. Like right now I'm in kinky twists.

All other usual hair care procedures apply. :)

So what about you? Have you had a trim lately? How do you figure out when you need one?

this is exactly me and my hair right now nothing missing nothing added. I got lazy and started sleeping with my hair out some nights.i even removed my satin pillow case for washing and didnt replace it back. i am yet to trim and have a proper wash day. i need serious help. i have been on an ugly bun since that wouldn't cooperate and go into a nice roundish shape. pffftttt. A trim is on the way . i cant deal with this ssk , dry hair any longer.*tear drops * for the hair that has to go for others to spring forthThis post really helped.

hahahhahaha sandra i have changed. immediately after reading your post that night i started wearing my bonnet religiously til date. while i carry my unresponsive bun till when i go to Kls naturals for a trim and hair TLC. i cant deal with my hair right now, the ssk are scaring the life out of me. if i dare carry scissors or shares i might just cut of everything with my present stress state. thanks for the post again. and ohh it would be nice to see you and your hair live. you both gingered me in my long term transition days.

Ve actually been trimming my hair in my mind for a while lool, but am not a diy person so am looking for who can help me as the salons in my area aint it. So have resorted to doing protective styles till the lord sends an helper my way. Self cant be killed.

Great analogy, suicidal strands choking themselves to death. Lol I love the instant rewards of a trim too. I only got very few while relaxed, didn't know they're known relaxed hair enemies too.Solidarity, sistuh.

I just did a search and destroy dusting of my ends over the weekend. It's tedious examining every curl and only snipping off the frayed end but it's soooo worth it to keep my length while screaming ADIOS single fairy knots!